“USA vs. Al-Arian,” Documentary follows Sami Al-Arian and his family after Al-Arian arrest on suspicion of terrorism

Posted by editor@vimooz.com on November 11, 2008 under Documentary, Film Festival, Politics | Comments are off for this article

Line Halvorsen’s film, “USA vs. Al-Arian,” is a documentary that follows Sami Al-Arian and his family after Al-Arian was arrested. Al-Arian was arrested in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 20, 2003, on suspicion of terrorism.

The government alleged Al-Arian, who taught engineering at the University of South Florida, was a leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group the U.S. government considers to be terrorist.

At trial, Al-Arian was acquitted on some charges, the jury was hung on others. Later, he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge. He served 5 1/2 years in prison before being let out on house arrest on Sept. 2.

He is now in a legal battle over his refusal to testify for a grand jury in Virgina regarding a separate case.

The film focuses on what his wife and children had to endure because of his arrest.

The film includes interviews from Al-Arian and his family and lawyers as well as the lawyers for the prosecution and others.

The film, which premiered in Toronto in 2007, has won many accolades including Best Film at the New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival and Best Documentary at the Norwegian Documentary Film Festival.